La Loma Del Chivo

Upon arrival we reached the area that would be our cabin for our stay. We called Ingrid and in her heavy Slovakian accent she informed us that she was on the way. A few minutes later she shows up in this eclectic hand painted Mercedes and proceeds to show us around the place. This place is real artsy and literally pieced together with ingenuity and imagination. We stayed in the stone cottage. But there are 4 other places to choose from for a nightly stay. The place has few amenities but it is very practical. I enjoyed it and I would stay here again. If you look closely in the picture I attached you can see Ingrid with her 2 children. They really have thrown together a neat, one of a kind little place.

After our tent got flooded during a thunderstorm at Big Bend, my friends and I decided to spend the night at La Loma Del Chivo as a spontaneous decision and it was one of the most memorable experiences of the summer. We chose the "Museum Room," which at first glance reminds me of what my unconscious brain may look like. After getting to know one of the owners, Ingrid, "the Goat Queen," we learned that a lot of the paintings and antiques we found in the room belonged Gil and his family and each item has a significant meaning and reason for being there. It's truly such an interesting and unique place. Thank you your hospitality!

My friend and I stayed here a year ago en route to Ft. Davis. We're both in our 60's!I just read a couple of bad reviews of the place and I can only say to them "maybe you should stick with motel 6!" Of course it's funky!! But wonderful! What it lacks in amenities it makes up in one of a kind mystic desert unique experience. We enjoyed the whole experience! Met some really cool people, both travelers and locals! Shared food and talk. A wonderful place, just don't expect pampering and luxury. If you want that, stay at the Gage Hotel which is also a wonderful place, just on the other end of the spectrum! Have an adventure!! Loosen up! Try something new and have an open mind!!And quit whining!!I

I celebrated completing 28 years as a teacher in the World-class Ysleta Independent School District with a 1082km/649mile, 1-country/2-State, "reTIRED Biketour", 23JAN-17FEB2018. The entire route was intense, educational, and extremely successful, with one of the most unique rural hostels I have ever stayed in on Planet Earth. My first overnight here occurred 16JUN2011, after Bikeman John (in AlpineTX, 25miles/36km West on US90, and the only bike shop between El PasoTX & Del RioTX) strongly encouraged me to stay here whilst I completed my biketour odyssey to HoustonTX & AustinTX. This was an amazing facility then and has only gotten better under the superb guidance of owner/operators Inga & Guil. So, naturally, I was thinking extensively about this amazing hostel much earlier, and knew that, if open, I'll sleep in "The Beehive", just one of the many unique structures that have made La Loma Del Chivo #1 rural hostel on our World. Not only is it an iconoclastic landmark, it's also a bit of a challenge to get to: tak the only road South which crosses the tracks to Sixth Street, then turn West/right for another three blocks; the pavement ends at the entrance--through an arch decorated with bike wheels (some of which I provided) welcomes you. This part of the World is renowned for artistic expressions, inspiration nd education: Paisano Pass safety/rest/picnic area, Marfa Mystery Lights/Marfa, Prada Shoes/Valentine, Target by the Tracks, Gage Hotel & Gardens/Marathon, Capital of Cactus/Sanderson.p, magnificent Big Bend National Park, Texas highway 170 between Presido/Ojinaga and Lafita's/Terlingua/Study Butte. Also very important in today's connected World is Texas public libraries have FREE WiFi, but you must be close. While Marathon has WiFi all around, the strongest and most reliable is NORTH of 90, at the Marathon public library, open afternoons, Monday-Fridays; I spent most of 09FEB2018 sitting inside, writing postcards. The next day, I was outside, recharging my cell phone and as well as sending messages & pix.You should register on their Facebook page, although I was quite late in doing so (like upon my arrival via my iPhone; Guil spoke with me later and gave me oral permission). Please understand that this is a hostel, and if you expect a chocolate on your turned-down bed, DO NOT stay here! BUT if you are flexible, fun loving, enjoy sharing experiences and living space (aka dome-style living), and want to save money, this is he place for you! Even if you don't overnight here, you need to at least visit to see some of the finest examples of recycling anywhere in Earth, specifically sleeping & habitation. I mentioned "The Behive" and my wanting to sleep in it; I am a bit crippled (walking is a pain, but not bicycling, though I am quite slow) with osteoarthritis in my knees. The opening to "The Behive" is kind of small, so I crawled in & out, always pulling the door tight behind. What made it so nice was that the small space was much easier to keep warm with my body heat and less nightwear was required. Which is another way to say that during he 25-day Biketour, I stayed inside (Oil Patch Motel, Eunice; friends in Cornudas & Grandfalls) only 4 nights, camping out the rest of the overnights; while there was not severe weather remotely close to the North & East, I could measure the chill by my waterbottle--the amount of ice inside by First Light revealed freezing conditions. It is best to make prior arrangements via their FB site; there are sometimes when it'll be full, like during the annual Marathon 2 Marathon 26.2 mile run, this year 18OCT2018.There you have it: I consider this a 5-star hostel, and it certainly does have my "Wheel of Approval!" I won't stay anywhere else in Marathon!

We booked this place thru airbnb because it was the only place available at that time in marathon. If you have kids please dont choose this place. The place dont have locks. So you will sleep in a place that you wont feel safe in middle of nowhere and hippies community. The shared bathroom is also not a good idea if you have kids. There were dogs poop right next to our car and at the front door of this dom. The room is ok but not clean. Dusty. I really like the style tho. Colorful and weird. Love the top deck. Very unique. We didnt use the shared outdoor kitchen. Its not clean. There was cockroachs in the cabinet. Again, its an ok place if you single with friends or a young couple BUT not clean and safe for kids. The owner was friendly and easy to work with.

This was my 2nd stay at Airbnb in two days. Prior to that I had no experience using it. I was surprising my husband for his birthday with a long weekend trip to Texas, with a stop at Big Bend National Park. Found the museum room on airbnb, & decided to try it out. Marathon is a quaint small city, and is the gateway to the east entrance to Big Bend. The museum room was clean, & I loved the decor. You do have a shared bathroom, with a very very small walk, to get to it...but it is clean. I knew this going in, so did not bother me. They also had a small building with communal sitting areas, a small outdoor kitchen, & firepit. The stars were amazing at night. The room was perfect. I will definately come back to stay again when visiting big bend.

okay gang, here you go way the fuck off the beaten path to some kind of informal eco-hostel, wuufing, punk rock, hippie 5 acres of paper and concrete mushroom sculpture crazy place. This place is the highlight of ANY road trip that goes through far- west- southern- texas. Just sayin that means its really strange. All destinations lead to La Loma. Bring them food, drink, fundage and cook in their outdoor community kitchen. Prepare to sleep in some strange colorful uncomfortable situation, on an old mattress in a multicolored dome. Meet the odd and wonderful people and leave your graffiti sentiments on their kitchen walls. Through them a few bucks to support their efforts to stay hip, bizarre and amazing. ps: this place is VERY informal so dont try making a damn reservation, just ring them up or ding them on couchsurfing.net and ask if they have room. pss: Marathon is like 6 blocks big. Don't worry about getting lost trying to find La Loma. Just stop at any store on the main street and ask about the crazy mud growing hippies. Look for 5 acres of rainbow sculptures and you will find it!!!

For the good times I've had around the outdoor kitchen, fireplace and upper deck alone I would recommend this place. Add to it the love and labor that tons of volunteers, tributaries and temporary locals have put in and you've got a recipe for hope for humankind.

It was great staying in the Spirit Room! Definitely the most unique place we've ever stayed. There was so much to look at in the museum room and it was a perfect base camp for running around the Big Bend area! The bed was so comfy and the shower was warm! Ingrid was super accommodating. We were supposed to stay at the Goat Shed but they they had to do repairs following the recent storm. Ingrid easily got us into the Spirit Room with no hassle! And she still let us have access to the star gazing area, lounge area, and kitchen at the Goat Shed. Thank you again, Ingrid!!!

This place was so amazing! If you ever need to escape the city and remind yourself how beautiful the Texas stars are at night, this is your place. Also Guil and Ingrid aka the Goat Queen are the best in the west. A must visit!!